5 Benefits Student Employees Look For in a Job

By Alicia Geigel on October 31, 2018

With the increasing number of student employees entering the job market at an alarming rate, employers and recruiters are confronted with the task of reaching college students and creating techniques to appeal to their interests and goals. It is no surprise that millennials are a large and growing sect of society, and post-graduation, there is a definite pressure for students to have a promising job offer that satisfies both their need for fulfillment and financial goals.

According to Karl Moore of Forbes, millennials are more interested in working for purpose rather than for a paycheck, stating, “[Millennials] are constantly seeking purpose in what they do for a living and at the same time want to know how their job is helping them get to the top.”

As an employer, it is important to know what your potential employees look for in a job so you can create an environment that is compatible with employees and recruit effectively. Student employees specifically consider job benefits to include the following: a clear career path/long-term success, development of job specific skills, compensation, job security, and a rewarding work atmosphere.

When it comes to appealing to millennials and recruiting college students for employment, one important factor to keep in mind is their need to search for a greater, more altruistic purpose in their work rather than a monetized incentive. Are you seeking college student/millennial workers in your company? Want an extensive look into the kind of benefits student employees seek in a job? Keep on reading to find out more about five benefits student employees look for in a job!

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1. Career Path/Long-Term Success: For student employees, creating an established career path is considered a huge benefit. Students look to establish a foundation that can be built upon in a job, with upward mobilization and long-term success as the ultimate goal. Stagnant working positions, with no chance of advancement are looked at as a red flags. In a LinkedIn blog post, writer Paul Petrone suggests that, “when you’re building your college recruitment strategy, make sure there’s a clear story around how your company will help them years down the line. If it’s truly convincing, recent graduates will come to you not for the money, but for the opportunity.”

2. Development of Job Specific Skills: Developing job specific skills is another key benefit student employees seek in a job. Post graduation, students are particularly looking to improve and develop skills that they can apply to their career in the present and future. By being an employee of your workplace, students want to learn new skill, gain new information, and grow their career.

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3. Compensation: In a world where student loans are ever-present, the cost of housing increasing, and the cost of living becoming harder and harder to meet, compensation is a very important benefit that student employees look for in a job. As a college graduate, students are faced with having to repay loans and enter into the adult world, thus, a competitive compensation is a huge benefit. Additionally, a decent benefits package, such as: dental and health insurance, a 401k plan, etc. is an added bonus that student employees seek in a job.

4. Job Security: Along with compensation, job security is considered to be another significant benefit in the job market. With a sometimes unsteady economy and the pressures of paying off accumulating debt, having and maintaining a secure job for a long period of time a necessity for student employees. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, “Pew found that 40% of millennials (ages 18 to 32) said job security was “extremely important” to them, compared with 38% of Gen Xers (33 to 48) and 31% of baby boomers. (49 to 67).”

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5. Rewarding Work Environment: Though financial stability and job security are huge priorities for student employees, they are far more interested in working toward a greater purpose, rather than toward a greater paycheck. Because of this, a rewarding work environment is a significant benefit to student employees. To appeal to student employees, include elements of service or giving back to your advertising or your career site, detailing how you prioritize helping others whether it be through specific programs, events, etc. Doing so will appeal to students and make them want to explore what else your company has to offer!

Though college students may seem difficult or like they are asking too much in regards to working, if you consider the five benefits they look for in a job, not only will you be successful in recruiting but you will also gain a greater understanding of how college students think and what they want. As always, good luck!